Hadhrat Ibrahim (علیه السلا م) has special distinction in acquiescence and cheerful acceptance (تسليم و رضا). He underwent many tests and trials but came out with flying colors. In childhood, he resisted idol worship of his paternal uncle Azar. He was undeterred when Nimrood threw him in Fire. A child was born after a long time. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commanded, 'Ibrahim (عليه السلام), leave your infant child and his mother in desolate wilderness where there is neither a man nor a trace of human being, no food and water'. 'Yes, my Lord' (came the answer). His child grew and attained grace and charm. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commanded, 'Ibrahim (عليه السلام) if you consider Me as friend, cut the throat of this child with a knife and sacrifice him. 'Yes, my Lord', was the answer from Abrahim ( علیه السلا م). He came out successful in all his tests and he was rewarded many bounties and Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) addressed him with many titles.

It is in Quran -وَاتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا[ And Allah took Ibrahim as friend.] (An-Nisa - 125)

In the above verse (124), Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) decreed him to be the Imam of the people. When Ibrahim (عليه السلام) supplicated for his future generations, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) granted his request and said that whoever is deserving, will surely be rewarded.

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 125

وَإِذْ جَعَلْنَا الْبَيْتَ مَثَابَةً لِلنَّاسِ وَأَمْنًا وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى وَعَهِدْنَا إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ أَنْ طَهِّرَا بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْعَاكِفِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ [ And We made the House (Ka'ba) a place of return and a sanctuary for people, saying, ‘Take the spot where Ibrahimؑ stood as your place of prayer.’ We commanded Ibrahimؑ and Ismailؑ : ‘Purify My House for those who walk round it, those who make it a retreat, and those who bow and prostrate.]

The old name of Makka was Bakka. From the above verses it is clear that Ka'ba was built by Hadhrat Adam (عليه السلام). Probably, it got washed away in the floods of Noah (عليه السلام). But the foundation marks existed during the time of Ibrahim (عليه السلام). Hadhrat Ibrahim (عليه السلام) rebuilt the Ka'ba on the same foundation on which it was built earlier.

It is in Quran - إِنَّ أَوَّلَ بَيْتٍ وُضِعَ لِلنَّاسِ لَلَّذِي بِبَكَّةَ مُبَارَكًا وَهُدًى لِّلْعَالَمِينَ [ Surely the first house appointed for men is the one at Bekka, blessed and a guidance for all nations.] (Aal-e-Imran - 96)

It is in Quran -وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ [ As Ibrahimؑ raised the foundations of the House with Ismailؑ, (they said): ‘Our Lord, accept it from us! Indeed You are the All Hearing, the All Knowing. (Al-Baqara - 127)

The following supplication was made by Hadhrat Ibrahim (عليه السلام) when he left his wife and infant son Ismail (عليه السلام) in the valley between Safa and Marwa hillocks near Ka'ba. This was years before he built Kaaba along with his grown up son Ismail (عليه السلام). This also shows that the building foundation existed and were visible.

It is in Quran - رَّبَّنَا إِنِّي أَسْكَنتُ مِن ذُرِّيَّتِي بِوَادٍ غَيْرِ ذِي زَرْعٍ عِندَ بَيْتِكَ الْمُحَرَّمِ رَبَّنَا لِيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ فَاجْعَلْ أَفْئِدَةً مِّنَ النَّاسِ تَهْوِي إِلَيْهِمْ وَارْزُقْهُم مِّنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَشْكُرُونَ [ Our Lord, I have established some of my offspring in an uncultivated valley, close to Your Sacred House, Lord, so that the people keep up the prayer. Make people’s hearts turn to it, and provide them with produce, so that the people may be thankful. ] (Ibrahim - 37)

It is in Quran - وَإِذْ بَوَّأْنَا لِإِبْرَاهِيمَ مَكَانَ الْبَيْتِ أَن لَّا تُشْرِكْ بِي شَيْئًا وَطَهِّرْ بَيْتِيَ لِلطَّائِفِينَ وَالْقَائِمِينَ وَالرُّكَّعِ السُّجُودِ [ We showed Ibrahim the site of the House, saying, ‘Do not assign partners to Me. Purify My House for those who circle around it, those who stand to pray, and those who bow and prostrate themselves. (Al-Hajj - 26)

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that His house is 'a sanctuary for people as they feel safe when they are in it.

Prior to the advent of Islam, even the pagans who had abandoned the religion of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and his descendants, believed in making pilgrimage to the sanctified house. They used to guarantee the safety of those visiting the Ka'ba.

In this verse, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commands us to pray at the place where Ibrahim (عليه السلام) stood while raising the wall of Ka'ba. The rock on which Ibrahim (عليه السلام) stood, is still preserved.

Once the house was rebuilt, Hadhrat Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Ismail (عليه السلام) took care of its maintenance. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commanded them to purify the House (and its surroundings). Probably the area was becoming like any other neighborhood where people slaughtered their animals and dumped their rubbish. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) commanded Hadhrat Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Ismail (عليه السلام) to clean the place for everyone (i) who do Tawaaf, (ii) who take time to retreat in it in safety, and (iii) who devote themselves for prayers for a longer time in bowing and prostrating. It is obvious that Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) wanted to make Ka'ba a focal point and Qibla for all Muslims of the world.

BRIEF HISTORY OF KA'BA

Kaba is a cubed house in Makka, Arabian Peninsula. All Muslims of the world face Ka'ba for prayers. They also visit Ka'ba for Umra and annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Currently, Ka'ba is 627 Sq ft in size. Its height is thirty nine and half feet. The inside of Kaba is ( 13 x 9) 117 Sq meters. Its walls are made of stones and are one meter in width. Its floor is 2.3 meters high from the ground.

Ka'ba was first constructed by Prophet Adam (عليه السلام). Later, it was reconstructed by Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Ismail (عليه السلام).

Ibrahimic foundations of Ka'ba were, (i) Eastern wall - forty eight and half feet, (ii) the Hateem side wall - 33 feet. (iii) The side between the black stone and the Yemeni corner - 30 feet. (iv) The western side wall - forty six and half feet.

Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) participated in one of its reconstructions carried out by Quraish of Makka before declaration of Prophet-hood. During this construction, Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) placed the black stone from his hands.

Since Quraish did not have sufficient funds, their reconstruction did not include the entire foundation of the Ka'ba built by Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام). This was the first time Ka'ba acquired cubical shape, unlike its original rectangle shape. The portion of the Ka'ba left out by Quraish is known as Hateem. This is marked as semi circle in the picture.

Yazid bin Muawiya bin Abu Sufyan destroyed and burned Ka'ba in 64 AH. He also ransacked the Prophet's (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) Mosque at that time and massacred thousands of Sahabah,Taba'een and Muslims.

It is in Hadith - Ibn Zubayr (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) said, "I heard Ummul Momineen Aisha (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہا) say, 'The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) said : "If your people had not quite recently abandoned the ignorance (Unbelief), and if I had sufficient provisions to rebuild it (the Ka'ba), I would have added five cubits to it from the Hijr. Also, I would make two doors; one for people to enter therein and the other to exit." (Bukhari).

In 74 AH (693 CE), Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf al-Thaqafi, a tyrant, with the permission of the then Umayyad ruler Abdul Malik bin Marwan, demolished Ka'ba just because it was built by Abdullah Ibn Zubayr (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ), and rebuilt it on the foundations of Quraish of Makka.

Later, Abbasid ruler Harun al-Rasheed wanted to rebuild Ka'ba on Ibrahimic foundations, the way the Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) wanted, and the way Abdullah ibn Zubayr (رضئ اللہ تعالی عنہ) had built it earlier. During that time Imam Malik was alive. He stopped the ruler from demolishing and rebuilding the Ka'ba. He said, do not make Ka'ba a toy in the hands of rulers to demolish and rebuild again and again. Based on this advice, the Ka'ba was left as it was.

In 1039 AH, during Ottoman ruler Sultan Murad Khan's reign, two of the walls of Ka'ba collapsed. The ruler rebuild the Ka'ba on the same Quraish foundations as it stood before.

In 1996, under Salafi rule in Arabian Peninsula, Ka'ba was completely taken down and reconstructed on the same Quraish foundations. No one among the people knew about this reconstruction as a thick curtain was installed around and the entire reconstruction was done in secrecy.

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 126

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَذَا بَلَدًا آَمِنًا وَارْزُقْ أَهْلَهُ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ مَنْ آَمَنَ مِنْهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآَخِرِ قَالَ وَمَنْ كَفَرَ فَأُمَتِّعُهُ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ أَضْطَرُّهُ إِلَى عَذَابِ النَّارِ وَبِئْسَ الْمَصِيرُ [ And Ibrahimؑ supplicated, 'My Lord, make this land secure and provide with produce to those of its people who believe in Allah and the Last Day.' Allah said, 'As for those who disbelieve, I will grant them enjoyment for a short while and then subject them to the torment of the Fire (which is) an evil destination.]

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 127

وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ [ As Ibrahim and Ismail (عليهم السلام) built up (and raised) the foundations of the House, (they said) ‘Our Lord, accept from us. You are the All Hearing, the All Knowing.]

رَبَّنَا وَابْعَثْ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آَيَاتِكَ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ [ Our Lord, also send among them an Apostle from themselves who will recite to them Your verses and teach them the Book and wisdom and purify them. Indeed, You are the Almighty, the Wise.]

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 130

وَمَنْ يَرْغَبُ عَنْ مِلَّةِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِلَّا مَنْ سَفِهَ نَفْسَهُ وَلَقَدِ اصْطَفَيْنَاهُ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنَّهُ فِي الْآَخِرَةِ لَمِنَ الصَّالِحِينَ [ And who will turn away from Ibrahim's (عليه السلام) religion, except who made himself a fool? We have chosen him in this world and he will rank among the righteous in the Hereafter.]

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 131

إِذْ قَالَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ أَسْلِمْ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ [ When his Lord said to him, "Submit", he (Ibrahim عليه السلام) said 'I have submitted to the Lord of the worlds.']

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 132

وَوَصَّى بِهَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بَنِيهِ وَيَعْقُوبُ يَا بَنِيَّ إِنَّ اللَّهَ اصْطَفَى لَكُمُ الدِّينَ فَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ [ And Ibrahim (عليه السلام) commanded his sons to do the same as did Yaqoob (عليه السلام) (who said) 'My sons, Allah has chosen your religion for you, so make sure you do not die unless (you are) in the state of submission.]

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 133

أَمْ كُنْتُمْ شُهَدَاءَ إِذْ حَضَرَ يَعْقُوبَ الْمَوْتُ إِذْ قَالَ لِبَنِيهِ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِنْ بَعْدِي قَالُوا نَعْبُدُ إِلَهَكَ وَإِلَهَ آَبَائِكَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ [ Or were you witnesses when the death came to Yaqoobؑ when he said to his children : 'What will you pray after me?' They said: 'We will pray to your Lord, and the Lord of your fathers, Ibrahimؑ, Ismailؑ and Ishaqؑ, the One Lord, and to Him do we submit. ]

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 134

تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُمْ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ [ That was a nation which has passed. Theirs is what they earned, and yours is what you earn. You will not be called to account for what they used to do. ]

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that for the earlier nation, it is what they have earned, and yours is what you earn in your life. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) is informing the children of Israel that being the descendants of Ibrahim (عليه السلام), Ishaq (عليه السلام) and Yaqoob (عليه السلام) it will not benefit them in anyway unless they adhere to the teachings of their prophets.

When the Jews and Christians truly adhere to the teachings of their prophets, surely, they will follow the teachings of Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) as well. And on the Day of Judgment every person will be judged on the basis of his deeds.

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 135

وَقَالُوا كُونُوا هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى تَهْتَدُوا قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ [ They say, 'Be Jews or Christians you will be guided.' Say, 'Rather, the religion of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) is inclining toward truth, and he was not of the polytheists. ]

There were three main groups that opposed Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم). The Jews, Christians and Makkan Pagans. Each one used to ask Muslims to leave Islam and join their religion. Each group believed themselves to be on the right path. Even among themselves, they addressed each other in the same way. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that only the religion of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) is inclined towards the truth, not of the polytheists, or the Jews and Christians who have altered their books and their faith.

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 136

قُولُوا آَمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَا أُوتِيَ مُوسَى وَعِيسَى وَمَا أُوتِيَ النَّبِيُّونَ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُ مُسْلِمُونَ [ Say, ‘We believe in Allah and in what was sent down to us and what was sent down to Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqoob, and the Tribes, and what was given to Musa, Isa, and all the prophets (عليهم السلام) by their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we devote ourselves to Him. ]

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 137

فَإِنْ آَمَنُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا آَمَنْتُمْ بِهِ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَوْا وَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَإِنَّمَا هُمْ فِي شِقَاقٍ فَسَيَكْفِيكَهُمُ اللَّهُ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ [ So if they believe in the same as you believe in, then they have been guided; But if they turn their backs, then they will be entrenched in opposition. Allah will protect you from them: He is All Hearing, All Knowing.]

Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that if they believe in Islam, they will be benefited. And if they turn their backs and oppose Muslims, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) is their to protect Muslims.

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 138

صِبْغَةَ اللَّهِ وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ مِنَ اللَّهِ صِبْغَةً وَنَحْنُ لَهُ عَابِدُونَ [This is the indelible marking of Allah. And who marks better than Allah! And to Him we submit. ]

The word Sibghah (صِبْغَةَ) is translataed as 'color', dye, indelible marking, etc. It is also interpreted as 'religion'. When a person accepts Iman, its sweetness enters his heart and changes him altogether. This is referred to as Sibghah in the above verse. Indeed, the best sibgah (color) is Allah's (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) color (faith).

It is in Quran -اللَّهُ نَزَّلَ أَحْسَنَ الْحَدِيثِ كِتَابًا مُّتَشَابِهًا مَّثَانِيَ تَقْشَعِرُّ مِنْهُ جُلُودُ الَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُمْ ثُمَّ تَلِينُ جُلُودُهُمْ وَقُلُوبُهُمْ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ هُدَى اللَّهِ يَهْدِي بِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ هَادٍ [ Allah has sent down the most beautiful of all teachings : a Book that is consistent and draws comparisons; that causes the skins of those in awe of their Lord to shiver. Then their skins and their hearts soften at the mention of Allah, such is Allah's guidance. He guides with it whoever He will; no one can guide those Allah leaves to stray. ] (Az-Zumur - 23).

It is important to note that dispute can never be between two true arguments; it is either between a false argument and a true one, or between two false arguments. The truth never collides with itself, because there is only one truth while there are innumerable lies and false accounts.

When it comes to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ), it is a fact that the teachings of Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله وسلم) are correct. This means that the arguments of the people who are opposing Islam are wrong. Often they are aware of this truth but their arguments are only for the purpose of argument, not for the sake of finding the truth. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) teaches us to answer to them like this - ‘Our deeds belong to us, and yours to you’, meaning that each person will be accountable for his deeds. We are sincere to Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) in our prayers, while you are pursing your desires and idol worship.

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 140

أَمْ تَقُولُونَ إِنَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَإِسْمَاعِيلَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَالْأَسْبَاطَ كَانُوا هُودًا أَوْ نَصَارَى قُلْ أَأَنْتُمْ أَعْلَمُ أَمِ اللَّهُ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ كَتَمَ شَهَادَةً عِنْدَهُ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَمَا اللَّهُ بِغَافِلٍ عَمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ [Or are you saying that Ibrahim, Ismail, Ishaq, Yaqoob (عليهم السلام), and the Tribes were Jews or Christians?’ ask them, ‘Who knows better : you or Allah? And who is more unjust than one who conceals a testimony he has from Allah? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.]

The people of the book claimed that the Prophets who preceded Musa (عليه السلام) and Isa (عليه السلام) belonged to their faith. The Jews claimed that they were Jewish, while the Christians asserted that they were Christians. Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says, 'Who knows better : you or Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ)?’ This question has only one answer: Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) knows best.

Juz 1, Al-Baqara, Verse 141

تِلْكَ أُمَّةٌ قَدْ خَلَتْ لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَلَكُمْ مَا كَسَبْتُمْ وَلَا تُسْأَلُونَ عَمَّا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ [That was a nation which has passed. Theirs is what they earned, and yours is what you earn. You will not be called to account for what they used to do.]

This verse and the verse at # 134 above look identical, but each carries distinct meaning. The first verse (at 134 above) informs the Jews that their lineage to Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and Ishaq (عليه السلام) will not benefit them on the Day of Judgment. In this verse, Allah (عَزَّ وَجَلَّ) says that their argument can not be an excuse for anyone, because each person is responsible for his deeds. Meaning, their argument that they belong to the same faith as Ibrahim (عليه السلام), will not benefit them in any way on the day of Resurrection.